Stefan closed the door as he and Elena entered the Gilbert residence alone, they presumed that Ariana had gotten a ride with someone else as, after looking for her for a while, they couldn't seem to locate her. Though they had no cause for concern, knowing the doppelganger was close to the Originals and they would not hurt her.

"So" Stefan began as he watched Elena fold her golden silk shawl. She faced away from him and Stefan was sure that she was upset, likely guilty for what she had helped take part in. "Esther wants to kill her whole family" he chuckled slightly. "How's that for mother of the year?"

"Yeah" Elena stated, attempting to sound amused though he could hear the emotion in her voice. "and I got to look Elijah right in the eye and lie to him about it."

"Well, Good" Stefan returned insatantly. "Can't say i'll be sorry to see any of 'em go."

"I just signed their death sentences Stefan"

"No, you signed Klaus' death sentence Elena"

"And what about Ariana?" Elena finally turned to him "she cares about them and I care about her. She is going to be so hurt by this, I have betrayed her. "

"It is not right for her to love him, not after what he has done" Stefan attempted to soothe her guilty conscience.

"What, in the same way that it isn't right for me to care about you and Damon? You've both killed people, I mean look at Vickie. How is it any different from what she is doing to what I have done? you cant help who you care about Stefan, there is a connection between the two of them and she is going to be absolutely crushed when she hears what I have done. I don't think she will ever forgive me." Elena's words were heartfelt and upset, she noticed at that moment that she had done this to her sister. Ariana never would have gotten so close to Klaus if Elena had stopped her and spent more time caring for her. She knew her sister felt alone and Elena didn't help to try and fix that.

"It will be better in the end Elena, when this is all over... and she had gotten over all the hurt she felt, she will be much happier because it means she can get the normal life everyone wants for her."

"Her life will never be normal Stefan. Not whilst we live here. She is blind but she is a doppelganger too and that means that it isn't safe in this town for her." Elena explained.

"She will get through it, just like you. Because despite it all, the strong people around you help you to be okay even when you don't feel like you can be" Stefan explained. "Klaus needs to die... everyone else is just collateral damage." he said and Elena frowned, still upset about hurting her sister but understanding that it will be safer for her without him.

"It's not that simple"

"That family has brought you nothing but darkness, Elena" he frowned, not understanding.

"But it has brought Ariana happiness, doesn't she deserve that?"

"They aren't safe Elena so... it is that simple" he sighed and the pair remained looking at one another for a long time, saying nothing until their conversation took a sudden turn, becoming emotional about how he couldn't allow himself to feel because it would only cause him pain. With that, he left.

*****

Ariana groaned, she could feel hard stone floor beneath her, she was in a foreign place and she knew that, her hands were bound tightly behind her back, it was incredibly uncomfortable but no amount of struggle could lessen the pressure, nor could she unwind the ropes holding her ankles together, she could do nothing but lay there. Opening her eyes did nothing to help.

"Ah. You're awake" a voice spoke and she frowned, recognizing it. It did not take her long to place it as Esther, the one who had done a speech at the ball that night. She wasn't sure how long she had been out but she was worried, if she had been out a long time, who knows what could've happened in her absence. "My name is Esther"

"What do you need from me?" she asked in worry.

"Many things my dear. Leverage to begin with, I need to make sure your sister and the Salvatore's won't go against their word. I also need you as leverage against my children. Niklaus has a strange fascination with you. He won't allow his siblings to kill me If he knows I have you. He can be very persuasive" Ariana gulped. "But I also need a doppelganger. I am going to channel the witches and the moon but better safe than sorry, a doppelganger is very strong darling. I know that it will take them a while to realise you are missing, you're the less popular doppelganger aren't you darling?" she spoke out, her voice was almost soft as though she cared but Ariana tried to keep that thought out of her mind.

"Please don't kill me" Ariana pled, she didn't know why she was so bothered, she didn't have a clue what was going on but she knew she wasn't safe. She didn't want to die, which confused her greatly as she had no reason to want to live.

"I wont" Esther responded "Yet"